The junior led the Spartans with 948 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 2011 and should improve on those numbers with an experienced offensive line and a potential increase in carries behind first-year starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell.

Wisconsin's Montee Ball was a finalist for the award last season and Nebraska's Rex Burkhead was a semifinalist (Alabama's Trent Richardson won the award). Both are back in 2012, too.

Michigan's Fitzgerald Touissant, Ohio State's Jordan Hall, Penn State's Silas Redd and Wisconsin's James White are also among the 52 players named to the watch list.